Posts: 426
Location: Perryville, MO | Hopefully VMS will chime-in on this one...but anyone with knowledge on the subject have at it.
After years of trying different brands I've become a fan of Interstate for the number of cycles I can expect to get out of them. My boat sees the water 125-150 times per year. The work on the trolling motor varies considerably. My last set of batteries (24 volt trolling motor) lasted just short of four years. That's value I can't complain about, especially when no "regular" deep cycles are rated to cycle that many times.
Alright here comes the question... I had been told that like a sponge it's important to run new batteries down fully (down to 20% or so) before recharging. Training the batteries to accept a full charge. Now I'm reading just the opposite. That I should only run them down 20% or so before giving them a proper (slow amp with a strong finish) charge. Which is it? Seems it changes depending upon who's writing the article.
I understand that batteries should hold a longer charge after 50-150 of the first cycles (that is, after the plates are fully conditioned). Again, I didn't have problems with the last set, so I suppose I'd be crazy not to do what I did last time, but just checking to see if I can do even better.
Second question...just because it relates and perhaps someone would like to enlighten us more: Any benefit in using a battery conditioner (acid/electrolyte additive)? |
